Impulsive Behavior Linked to Higher Weight

If you have an impulsive personality, you might act—and eat—before you think things through. And that could sabotage your weight-loss efforts. Researchers ran personality assessments, impulse control tests, and brain scans on 34 overweight or obese people ages 22 to 43. Participants with a higher body mass index (BMI, a ratio of weight to height used to estimate body fat) showed reduced activation of a brain region involved in self-control. They also scored higher on tests that measure impulsivity. Weight-management programs that help curb impulsive behavior may be the key to successful weight loss, the researchers conclude.Source:Obesity, January 2017